Faculty Meeting Friday, May 16, 2008

Date: 
Friday, May 16, 2008 - 12:00am
Location: 
ATAC 5035
Agenda: 
There will be a meeting of the Council of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
ON FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2008 AT 9:30 A.M.  IN ROOM 5035 (ATAC BUILDING).
 
                                                AGENDA  
1.       Approval of Agenda.
 
2.       Gwen Wojda Report
 
3.       Approval of the April Minutes.   
 
4.       Business Arising from the Minutes.
 
5.       Registrar's Report.
 
6.       Dean's Report.
 
7.       Graduands
 
8.       Departmental Reports.
i)
General Program - calendar change (Margaret MacLean)
Delete:
Library and Information Studies 1100, 2030, 2050, 2170, 3010
(Courses have not been offered for past 5 years.)
ii)
Languages Department - calendar change:
(p. 258
Under 6.  Certificate of French Proficiency for Non-French Majors
3. Advanced Proficiency
"...One of French 2420 or French 2611 and 2615."
 
Delete
 "...One of French 2420 or French 2611 and 2615".
Replace with
"...One FCE in French at the second year level".)
 
9.       Other Business.
i)
Ad Hoc Committee Report.  (B. Stolar) (doc. 1)
 
10.     Adjournment.
 
 
_________________________________
VICTOR SMITH
Chair, Social Sciences and Humanities Faculty Council.
Minutes: 
 
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES COUNCIL
FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2008
 
 
A meeting of the Faculty Council was held on Friday, April 11, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. in the ATAC Board Room 5035.
 
V. Smith welcomed Orillia colleagues and then called the meeting to order.
 
1.
Approval of Agenda
 
It was moved by M. MacLean and seconded by H. Smith that the agenda be approved with the following changes:
 
.delete item 2.  Gwen Wodja Report.  T. Dunk explained that G. Wodja hoped to bring forward a proposal for a four-year distance education program to accommodate Distance Education students.  However, she has decided to wait until the various related issues such as student counting and reporting, etc. have been discussed by the Faculty. 
 
.correct item 7 ii) - should read "Adjunct".
 
.add - item 7 iv - Political Science - Adjunct - Peter Globensky.
 
.add - under item 8 Other Business - i) Discussion of Distance Education - S.D. Stone.
 
                                                                                    Carried.
2. 
Approval of the Minutes
 
It was moved by J. Leggatt and seconded by D. West that the minutes of March 13th be approved.
                                                                                    Carried.
                                                                               
3.
Business Arising from the Minutes
 
There was none.
 
4.
Dean's Report
 
i)
Budget
 
At the last Deans' Council, the V.P. (Academic) reported that she has found $1.3 million of the $2.5 million budget cut.  This means that proposed new expenditures will not go forward, i.e., 9-month term appointments, no computer replacement program, etc.  Things still could change, but at the moment, departments should assume that they have the same budget as last year.  The remaining $1.2 million will have to be found and the Vice-President (Academic) is reviewing low enrolment courses and feels that there will be some savings there.  However, there is a need for some discussion to ensure that programs for students can be appropriately delivered next year.  The final budget will be announced shortly.
 
In response to a question regarding the state of internal postings, it was agreed that such postings should include the phrase "subject to budgetary approval."
 
ii)
Modular Degree Program
 
The Dean's office is putting the document together.  With the permission of the Secretary of Senate, the required Senate form does not have to be used. Currently, the document is 74 pages (without Northern Studies and Indigenous Learning) and includes the Department of Psychology despite the fact that Psychology and Outdoor Recreation will eventually be changing faculties.  T. Dunk is editing the language to ensure consistency.  It is expected that the modular degree motion will go forward to Senate on April 25th.
 
iii)
Faculty Restructuring
 
Both Deans' Council and AEC are looking at faculty restructuring.  At the Senate meeting on April 25th, the perceived changes will be announced as part of the Vice-President (Academic) Report.  Currently, the effective date of changes is not known.
 
iv)
Draft Policy on Freedom of Information and Confidentiality of Student Records
 
M. Shaw is working on such matters.  Among these items is a letter for new employees which is being developed to address confidentiality and the requirement for new employees to adhere to new regulations.  Many new issues are coming to the surface. 
 
Discussion followed which included centralized record keeping and lengths of time that departments should retain student materials.  Currently, student exams, tests and essays held by departments are kept for one year before disposal.  It was also noted that marks should not be posted, transported by students nor sent by e-mail.
 
v)
Vice-President (Academic) Review Committee
 
The Committee has completed its work and a report to the President is now being prepared.
 
vi)
PTR
 
PTR meetings for promotion to full professor will be held on Monday, April 14th and Tuesday, April 15th.
 
vii)
Reminder
 
T. Dunk thanked everyone in advance for getting their marks in on time (May 1st).  
 
5.
Registrar's Report
 
i)
Examinations - April 11th
 
Due to the inclement weather conditions and the unavailability of city buses, A. Foshay asked for indulgence with regard to the day's students who were writing morning examinations.  Hopefully, invigilators will allow students caught in these circumstances to commence their examinations a bit later (at 10:00 a.m. rather than at 9:00 a.m.)
 
ii)
Education Calendar Changes - document A
 
The current education calendar changes were put into a graph format to demonstrate how they impact each faculty department. Due to the changes in education, approximately 160 students in the second year of Social Sciences and Humanities will be  looking for an extra ½ course, while in the Education programs approximately 356 students will be looking for an extra half course.  A communication strategy between Education and Academic Advising is being worked out so that affected students will not get mixed messages.
 
6.
Department Reports
i)
Department of English
 
It was moved by J. Leggatt and seconded by H. Smith that the Department of English calendar changes be approved.
 
                                                                                                Carried.
ii)
Department of Philosophy
 
It was moved by T. Dufresne and seconded by M. Beaulieu that C. Sachetti-Dufresne be approved as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Philosophy.
 
                                                                                                Carried.
iii)
Department of Political Science
 
It was moved by D. West and seconded by T. Dufresne that P.A. Globensky be approved as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Political Science.
 
                                                                                                Carried.
 
iv)
Department of Sociology
 
It was moved by S.D. Stone and seconded by P. Wakewich that the calendar changes for the Department of Sociology be approved with the recommended changes.
 
                                                                                                Carried.
v)
Women's Studies
(a)
It was moved by H. Smith and seconded by P. Wakewich that the calendar changes for the changes to the Bachelor Arts in Women's Studies be approved.
 
                                                                                                Carried.
(b)
It was moved by H. Smith and seconded by P. Wakewich that the calendar changes for the Joint Honours in Women's studies be approved.
 
                                                                                                Carried.
 
Discussion followed.  The modular degree submission will be going forward.  It was felt that possible implications due to current calendar changes should not impede their progress. Because of the time element in the change process, the best interests of current students must be considered.
 
7.
Any Other Business
 
i)
Discussion of Distance Education - S.D. Stone
 
S.D. Stone asked that Faculty Council address the distance education degree proposal in order to come up with ways to sort out implications such as the counting of students, FCE/FTE, stipends, etc.  Such matters should be clarified so as not to penalize departments. 
 
Statistical figures from Institutional Analysis impact the budget process, but do not necessarily reflect the reality.  Further discussion followed. 
 
Gwen Wodja will attend the next Council meeting.
 
It was moved by D. West and seconded by G. Hayman that an Ad Hoc Subcommittee be established to deal with the Distance Education proposal.
 
                                                                                                Carried.
 
It was agreed that the Ad Hoc Committee membership consist of D. West and T. Dunk.  The committee will meet with G. Wodja prior to the next Council meeting. 
 
ii)
Congratulations
 
Council applauded as T. Dufresne congratulated T. Dunk on behalf of Faculty Council with regard to his new appointment at Brock University commencing July 1st.   
 
iii)
Acting Dean
 
In response to an enquiry with regard to an acting dean,
 
It was moved by S.D. Stone and seconded by H. Smith that the Vice-President (Academic) be notified that Social Sciences and Humanities Faculty Council wishes to be consulted in the appointment of a new Acting Dean.
 
                                                                                                Carried.
 
8.
Adjournment
 
The meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m.
 
ATTENDANCE
 
Thunder Bay Campus
T. Dufresne
T. Dunk
G. Hayman
S. Islam
P. Jasen
J. Leggatt
M. MacLean
B. Moazzami
M. Nisenholt
M.N. Rinne
H. Smith
V. Smith
S.D. Stone
P. Wakewich
D. West
 
Orillia Campus
A. den Otter