S-96-10 FACULTY OF SCIENCE MINUTES OF MEETING Tuesday, October 8, 1996 Leacock Council Room - L232 ATTENDANCE: As recorded in the Faculty Appendix Book. DOCUMENTS: S-95-44 S-96-1 to S-96-9 Dean Shaver called the meeting to order at 3:06 p.m. (1) RESOLUTION ON THE DEATH OF PROFESSOR ROBERT PETERS 101.1 Prof. D. Kramer read a formal resolution on the death of Prof. Peters (Appendix A, attached to the permanent copy of the minutes). The resolution was adopted unanimously. (2) CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES a) Bachelor of Science S-96-3 102.1 Dean Shaver reported that there were 113 candidates recommended for the Bachelor of Science Degree for the Fall convocation. Dean Shaver noted that a document concerning graduation statistics for each department in the Faculty of Science had been tabled (for information). Dean Shaver introduced Ms. Rosa Colaianni, Advisor, Student Affairs Office, to answer any questions concerning the degree list. It was pointed out that the program of one student was incorrectly listed. Prof. Baker moved, seconded by Prof. Ingram, that the above candidates be recommended to the Senate Steering Committee for the Bachelor of Science degree. Prof. GowriSankaran further moved, seconded by Prof. Derome, that the Dean be given discretionary power to make such changes in the degree list as would be necessary to prevent injustice. The motion carried. b) Diploma in Environmental Studies S-96-4 102.2 There were no students recommended for this diploma. c) Diploma in Meteorology S-96-5 102.3 There were no students recommended for this diploma. (3) MINUTES OF MAY 21, 1996 S-95-44 Prof. Farrell moved, seconded by Prof. Paquette, that the minutes be approved. The motion carried. (4) BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES (for information) 104.1 Associate Dean de Takacsy said that the proposal from the School of Computer Science to join the Faculty of Science would be discussed at the APPC meeting of October 10, 1996. Dean Shaver added that there had been a meeting involving Vice-Principal (Academic) Chan, the deans of the Faculties of Science and of Engineering, and the director of the School of Computer Science. He said that Vice-Principal (Academic) Chan would bring forth a recommendation at the APPC meeting. (5) SEATING OF STUDENT MEMBERS S-96-6 (for information) 105.1 Dean Shaver noted that the list of student representatives for Faculty of Science meetings and for Faculty committee meetings had been tabled. (6) ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no announcements. (7) REPORTS OF COMMITTEES a) Sub-committee on Scholarships S-96-7 (for information) - New Prize - Hagerman Prize - Value $250 (for information) 107.1 Prof. GowriSankaran announced that a new prize, the Hagerman Prize, had been established by Ms. Joan Hagerman. The prize would be given to an outstanding student, and would be awarded by the Faculty of Arts Scholarships Committee in odd-numbered years, and by the Faculty of Science Scholarships Committee in even- numbered years. 107.2 In response to a request, Dean Shaver said that the Faculty would try to have a copy of the the Scholarships Report would be sent to each department at the end of June, annually. b) Committee on Student Standing S-96-1 (for information) c) Nominating Committee S-96-2 107.3 Dean Shaver explained that the Nominating Committee is chaired by the Dean, and consists of the Science Senators. Prof. GowriSankaran moved, seconded by Prof. Derome, that the Report of the Nominating Committee be approved. The motion carried. d) Academic Committee S-96-8 Report on Minor Course Changes (AC-96-1) (for information) Minors: (AC-96-2) - African Studies - Art History - Canadian Ethnic Studies - Canadian Studies - International Development Studies - Social Studies in Medicine Prof. GowriSankaran moved, seconded by Prof. Butler, that the above minor programs be approved for students in the Faculty of Science. The motion carried. Ad hoc Joint Honours Program in Computer Science & Neuroscience (AC-96-3) Prof. Mucci moved, seconded by Prof. Franklin, that the above ad hoc joint honours program for Mr. J. Erlich be approved. The motion carried. Microbiology and Immunology - Temporary Program Revision (AC-96-4) 107.4 After a short discussion concerning this item, Prof. GowriSankaran moved, seconded by Prof. Paquette, that the above changes be approved. The motion carried. New Course: 528-5XXB (-509B) Seminar on Inflammatory Processes (AC-96-5) 3 credits Prof. Paquette moved, seconded by Prof. Roulet, that the above course be adopted. The motion carried. Curriculum Coordination (Science, Medicine, and Agricultural & Environmental Sciences) 107.5 Dean Shaver announced that the Deans of the Faculties of Medicine and of Science, along with the chairs of the Departments of Biology and Biochemistry, had appointed a small group to coordinate curriculum changes in the life sciences, in order to use resources more efficiently; an íobserverí from the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences would be included in this group. Course Approvals: Departments/Units in the Faculty of Medicine (- 100 to -500 level courses [non-professional courses]) (AC-96-6) 107.6 Dean Shaver said the Faculty of Medicine had requested that course approval procedures for the non-basic science departments in the Faculty of Medicine be administered by the Faculty of Science Academic Committee; this would include courses not relevant to the Bachelor of Science degree. After some discussion, Prof. Paquette moved, seconded by Prof. Ingram, that the above process be adopted. The motion carried. Experimental Medicine (for information) New Courses: 516-510A Bioanalytical Separation Methods (AC-96-7) 3 credits 516-511A Joint Venturing with Industry (AC-96-8) 3 credits 107.7 Associate Dean de Takacsy explained the background of the above two courses. 107.8 After some discussion, the following questions were raised by members with regard to 516-510A and 516-511A: 107.9 516-510A: What does a 0.5 hour laboratory entail? 107.10 516-510A and -511A: Why are there no prerequisites listed for these 500-level courses? 107.11 516-511A: Why does a three-credit course consist of 2 hours of lecture and 0.5 hour of seminar per week? This is 0.5 hour short for a three-credit course. 107.12 516A-510A and -511A: How many Science students would be enrolled in these courses, and would the Faculty of Science approve this type of course as an elective towards the BSc degree? 107.13 In addition, it was suggested that there is not much evidence that 516-511A deserves to be a 500-level course, and that there needs to be clarification on the level at which it would be taught. 107.14 Associate Dean de Takacsy said that these queries would be conveyed to the Department of Experimental Medicine. Accord-Cadre Franco-Quebecois Entre CPU, CDEFI & CREPUQ and Pan- Canadian Protocol on the Transferability of University Credits (for information) 107.15 Associate Dean de Takacsy reported on the above two documents. He said that there were still questions to be cleared up with the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. Associate Dean de Takacsy said that he would further report at a later meeting, with clearer documents, but that in the meantime members should be aware of the existence of these two documents. He said that Academic Committee members have copies of them. BSc/BEd Degree Program Designation (AC-96-10) Major in íSubject 1í and íSubject 2í for Teachers 107.16 Associate Dean de Takacsy reported that the BSc/BEd Degree Program had been approved by NRCP, pending approval of the program designation by the Faculty of Science. Prof. Pollard moved, seconded by Prof. Rigelhof, that the degree designation be adopted. The motion carried. (8) DEANíS BUSINESS a) Budget Update 108.1 Dean Shaver listed the estimated cuts in the Quebec Operating Grant: for 1996-97, $14.3 M; for 1997-98, $18 M. b) Planning Document 108.2 Dean Shaver said that the Faculty of Science Planning Document had been distributed to all chairs, and that any comments or suggestions were welcome from members. c) Enrolment Statistics 108.3 Dean Shaver said that the Faculty of Science had had a decrease in the number of incoming students, but that the total number of students had increased by seven. There had been a decrease in enrolment in other faculties, and the situation was much worse at other universities. There had been a follow-up on acceptances by the Student Affairs Office, and by some departments. The Principal had set up a task force on recruiting chaired by Vice-Principal (Academic) Chan, and including the Dean of Science. Dean Shaver said that a questionnaire had indicated that students had often refused acceptance due to lack of sufficient residence space, and that the Principal had established another task force chaired by the Dean of Students to address the issue. d) Faculty Position in the Faculty of Education in the Area of Science Education 108.4 Dean Shaver said that the process of recruiting an assistant professor in the Faculty of Education in the area of Science Education had begun. Professors Harris and Pollard are the two Science representatives on the Search Committee. The advertisement had been circulated to all chairs. Dean Shaver said that the candidate must have a Ph.D. in Education and/or Science. He said that this was an appointment in the Faculty of Education, not a Faculty of Science position. e) Minutes 108.5 Dean Shaver announced that in the future the Faculty of Science and the Academic Committee minutes would be more in the form of a report of actions taken. He said that this was in order to streamline procedures in the Faculty office; the tapes would be kept for two or three months after each meeting. (9) REPORT: McGILL SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT - Prof. Ingram S-96-9 109.1 Prof. Ingram reported information additional to the above document. There had been a meeting on October 4, 1996, at which time the three committees had decided to form a working group to look at certain issues. A workshop with broad representation was planned for the end of November, 1996. Prof. Ingram said that, so far, there had been four or five domains submitted from the Faculty of Science for consideration. (10) MEMBERSí QUESTION PERIOD There were no questions. (11) REPORT ON ACTIONS OF SENATE* Prof. Farrell reported on the Senate meeting of September 25, 1996. *Senate documents are available in the Deanís Secretariat for consultation. (12) OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business. The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m. \facsci\octmin.doc