Faculty Meeting Friday, October 14, 2005

A meeting of the Faculty Council was held on Friday, September 16, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. in the ATAC Board Room 5035.

 

 

It was moved by L. Di Matteo and seconded by P. Wakewich that Bruce Strang be nominated to

serve as our next Council Chair.

 

                                                                        Carried. 

 

 

K. Fedderson welcomed and introduced the following guests:

 

a)   John Smith, Director of Academic Advising.

 

b)   Tove Tronslien, Webmaster.

 

      Tove provided a presentation for members on how to access council materials from the

      Faculty web page.  It was noted that any problems faculty council members may encounter trying to access the faculty council web site should be directed to Judy or Tove in an e-mail            outlining the nature of the problem.  Also, ideas on how to enhance the Faculty webpage    should be directed to Judy by e-mail.

 

      P. Jasen requested that a small number of hard copies of Council materials should be

      made available for faculty council members.  This practice should commence for the

      next meeting.

 

c)   J. Siddall, newly appointed Director of Instructional Development at Lakehead University.

       

      This position is currently a one-year appointment.  J. Siddall welcomed any opportunity to   assist faculty with such things as workshops, etc.  She can be contacted either by phone or e-   mail. 

 

      Other new colleagues were introduced as follows:

 

      J. Leggatt, Chair of English, introduced new English colleagues:

 

      . Dr. Monica Flegel

     

 

 

      . Dr. Anna Guttman

      . Dr. Chris Parkes

 

 

 

It was moved by V. Smith and seconded by P. Wakewich that the agenda be approved with the following changes:

 

Item 3 moved to item 6, and the numbering order revised accordingly.

 

                                                                        Carried.

 

            There was none.

 

6.         Conceptual Framework for the University's Research Plan.  -  A. Klymenko

 

            K. Fedderson introduced Anne Klymenko who spoke on behalf of Dr. R. Wang, Vice- President of Research.

 

            Anne addressed the circulated document on the conceptual framework for the   University's research plan.  She emphasized that it was at the draft stage and was not the            final version that would be presented for Senate approval.  She asked Council for their       feedback.  B. Strang was also a member of the Research Committee who could answer             questions.  A discussion followed. 

 

           

 

 

            There was a query with regard to the balance in the report:   45% for teaching,

            45% for research and 10% for Service.  It was felt that 'Service' was underrepresented.                       'Service' provided faculty the necessary time for teaching and research.

           

            With respect to promotion and tenure, the report's research criteria seemed to be          restricted to external funding.  Some faculty research was of the nature that did not    require such funding, while other research did not need immediate money and was done            through faculty resources.  It was explained that this aspect had been addressed and will                   be reflected in   the final draft.  On the external front, Maclean's have limited their           definition of research in Canadian universities by equating income to productivity. 

 

            The meaning of interdisciplinary and prioritized areas such as those found on pages 3     and 7 of the report was not clear.

           

            B. Strang stated that these issues had not been fully discussed.  In order to provide a     more comprehensive draft to identify research, a culture and society research stream had    been incorporated as a criterion.

 

            K. Fedderson raised the following issues:

           

            1)         i           the areas of research

 

                        ii           definition of research intensiveness at the University

                       

            2)         Every full-time faculty is obliged to do research.  Budget requirements

                        should not influence promotion and tenure. Colleagues within the

                        University should receive adequate support.  New principles should

                        support research at Lakehead University irrespective of discipline or the

                        focus of NSERC.

 

            B. Strang also shared this concern and again pointed to the framework of "Culture and Society." 

 

            Discussion continued.      

 

            B. Strang noted that external research criteria does now require societal impacts with

            funding requests.  He emphasized that the Vice-President Academic shares the Committee's concerns.  It had been observed that some research intensive universities

            have cut down faculty teaching loads to two. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            A. Klymenko explained that current research funding criteria is consistent with others in the system. 

 

            It was suggested that a small faculty committee be formed to represent the will

            of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities and write a response to the Research

            Plan. 

 

            It was moved by D. West and seconded by J. Leggat that a formal committee

            be struck to represent the will of the faculty and a develop a collective response to the

            "Conceptual Framework for the University's Research Plan."

 

                                                                                    Carried.

 

             The following individuals responded to a call for volunteers to serve on the committee:

 

            1)         Scott Pound

            2)         Pam Wakewich

            3)         Patricia Jasen

            4)         Aris Carastathis.

 

            B. Strang asked the Committee to bring a report back to the next council meeting.  The

            final report would then be forwarded to Senate.

 

 

 

            It was moved by J. Leggatt and seconded by L. Di Matteo that the faculty

            council meeting schedule for 2005/06 be approved with the following

            changes:

 

            i)          the room for the April 7, 2006 meeting has been changed to ATAC 3004.  

 

            ii)         an additional meeting may be required in December 2005, and

 

            iii)         a rescheduled meeting may be required in May 2006 to accommodate

                        graduand approval.

 

                                                                                    Carried.

 

            The key dates for 2005-06 were presented to council.  It was noted that the faculty

             key dates should include October 1^st which is the deadline for SSHRC applications.

 

 

            K. Fedderson spoke to the proposal with respect to transforming the general program

            in Social Sciences and Humanities into an interdisciplinary program.   He pointed to the poor quality of the current General BA program.   Attempts to improve the quality have     begun by raising the average for graduating students from 50 to 60%. Currently         registered students have been given a six year grace period.

 

            The Orillia campus which will be operational by fall 2006 will hopefully accommodate    250 students.  The campus could serve as the introduction for the interdisciplinary   program and form its foundation.  This would allow the faculty the flexibility to create         an interdisciplinary BA which could eventually replace the general BA.  The Dean of      Science and Environmental Studies is also looking at offering an interdisciplinary B.Sc.          General program.  The rationale behind the interdisciplinary BA is   provided on page 1 of   faculty council support document 4.  A question period followed.

 

            It was noted that M. MacLean is the current program coordinator for the general           program.   Consequently, there would be no increase in this year's budget.  Class sizes     for the Orillia campus would be limited to 20, 40 and 60.  Funding issues were discussed.             K. Fedderson noted that there were no clear answers yet regarding the implications of         future costing, accounting, etc. for the program.  However, offering such a program,       would apply to courses delivered at Orillia only and the Interdisciplinary program could be the   basis for a more focussed University degree.  Debate continued.

 

            It was moved by H. Smith and seconded by J. Siddall that Council reconsider

            this motion at the next meeting.

 

                                                                                    Carried (1 Opposed).

 

It was moved  by K. Fedderson and seconded by B. Stolar that the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities would like to alter the curriculum in all Social Sciences and Humanities programs so that beginning in the Fall of 2006, only 1 FCE of "Pre-service" Education courses (specifically the series of courses Education designated as electives e.g. EDUC 3410, 3430, 3431, 3432, 3433, 3434, 3435, 3436, 3437, 3438, 2438, 3439, 3458, 3470) would be eligible for credit towards the BA or HBA.

 

 

 

 

This change would end the inconsistently-applied practice of crediting the professionally-oriented "Pre-service Education courses (1499, 2499, and 2499) towards any SS & H BA or HBA degrees.

 

                                                                                    Carried. 

 

11.       Course Caps - Dr. Ron Harpelle

 

            T. Dunk had been asked to speak on behalf of Ron Harpelle.

 

            K Fedderson pointed out that the Committee with regard to enrolment and management            (R. Harpelle and P. Wakewich) had not yet met.  J. Leggatt volunteered to serve if needed on this Committee.  The recruitment and orientation committee (D. West, H.            Smith) had also not met.  Because these committees have not held a meeting, what the             faculty wishes to accomplish has not yet been articulated.

 

            Council continued on to the next agenda item.

 

 

            G. Boire spoke to the proposed Faculty of Graduate Studies.  He outlined the history

            behind the proposal and noted that it was built upon an earlier document in 2000.

            The proposal has been approved at Senate Graduate Studies last year, referred to Senate,

            the Senate Budget Committee and the Senate Academic Committee.  He was now        involved in a consultation process with a town hall meeting scheduled for October to        allow for input from the various academic units, LUFA and other interested areas.

            He also pointed out that the document was still open for revision and change.  He          welcomed input from all concerned and a question period followed.

 

            There was discussion regarding the criteria for supervision of graduate theses and           teaching loads.  It was pointed out that there would be an annual review of graduate     faculty and a list of eligible faculty would be provided. Where necessary,         the Graduate     Studies Committee would consider modifications to the criteria to handle unusual             circumstances. 

 

            Discussion turned to research and faculty NSERC requirements.  It was explained that   this aspect could be rewritten or eliminated.

 

                       

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

            It was moved by G. Boire and seconded by P. Jasen that Council approve in principle the

            the establishment of a Faculty of Graduate Studies at Lakehead University.

           

                                                                                    Carried (3 Abstentions)     

 

 

            The support document was noted and there was no further comment.      

 

 

i           Continuation Codes - Millo Shaw

 

            M. Shaw provided an update to council on the state of continuation codes.

            These are the codes assigned to students within a department who are

            continuing in the program.  Currently there are some problems with codes.  Similar

            codes have a different meaning in the differing faculties.  This has created the following   difficulties.

 

            1)         there is a computer system problem which is not set up properly to

                        assess what the status of the student is.

 

            2)         in administering the system, problems do not get caught until the

                        end of July and many students who should not go on, are allowed to

                        continue.

 

            The Deans, Academic Advising and their staff are setting up a new comprehensive

            coding that will:

 

            1)         ensure that the student history can be seen easily in the system

 

            2)         assign continuation codes clearly and consistently.           

 

            3)         allow for special academic discretion due to special circumstances of the                                                            individual department and faculty.

 

            By the end of this year, there will be a degree audit ready for review of transcripts and a            system in place that will have the strategy to correct the problems of the past.    

 

           

            i           Department of History

 

            It was moved by P. Jasen and seconded by H. Smith that Dr. Geoff Hudson be approved

            as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of History.

 

                                                                                    Carried.

 

            ii           Department of Philosophy

 

            It was moved by R. Berg and seconded by H. Smith that Dr. Jaro Kotalik be renewed

            as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Philosophy.

 

                                                                                    Carried.

 

            There was none.

 

 

            The meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

R. Berg

A. Carastathis

G. Colton

A. den Otter

L. Di Matteo

T. Dunk

K. Fedderson

M. Flagel

A. Guttman

P. Jasen

S. Islam

D. Ivison

J. Leggatt

G. Munro

A. Nabarra

C. Parkes

S. Pound

R. Robson

M. Shaw

G. Siddall

H. Smith

V. Smith

B. Stolar

B. Strang

P. Wakewich

D. West

 

 

G. Boire

A. Klymenko

J. Smith

T. Tronslien

 

M. MacLean

J. Roth

P. Vervoort