S-03-21 FACULTY OF SCIENCE Meeting of Faculty Tuesday, December 2, 2003 Leacock Council Room - L232 ATTENDANCE: As recorded in the Faculty Appendix Book. DOCUMENTS: S-03-16 to S-03-18/18A, S-03-19, S-03-20 Dean Shaver called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. (1) ADOPTION OF AGENDA - Academic Implications of the Work of the Office for Students with Disabilities - presentation - to be held after Item #1. - Dean Shaver pointed out that an Addendum (Document S-03-18A) to the Academic Committee Report (Item #4(b), and a document (S-03-20) for Item #5(ii), had been tabled. Prof. Gyakum moved, seconded by Prof. Ewing, that the amended Agenda be adopted. The motion carried. (2) MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 11, 2003 S-03- 16 Prof. Moore moved, seconded by Prof. Ewing, that the Minutes be approved. The motion carried. (3) BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES There was no business arising from the Minutes. (4) REPORTS OF COMMITTEES a) Committee on Student Standing S-03- 17 Associate Dean Mendelson pointed out the report. b) Academic Committee S-03- 18/18A SECTION A: NEW PROGRAMS - B.A.& Sc. MAJOR CONCENTRATION IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES AC-03- 7(REV) Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. GowriSankaran, that the program be adopted. The motion carried. SECTION B: MAJOR PROGRAM CHANGES None SECTION C: NEW COURSES (1) PSYCHOLOGY PSYC 395 Psychology Research Project 1 AC-03- 68 3 credits PSYC 494 Psychology Research Project AC-03- 69 6 credits Prof. Baker moved, seconded by Prof. Baines, that the courses be adopted. The motion carried. PSYC 541 Multilevel Modeling AC-03-70 3 credits Prof. Baker moved, seconded by Prof. Donderi, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. (2) COMPUTER SCIENCE COMP 523 Language-based security AC-03- 76 3 credits Prof. Th‚rien moved, seconded by Prof. Ewing, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. (3) McGill SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT ENVR 490 Independ. Study - Environment AC-03- 87 3 credits Prof. GowriSankaran moved, seconded by Prof. Ewing, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. (4) MATHEMATICS & STATISTICS MATH 350 Graph Theory and Combinatorics AC-03- 103 3 credits MATH 410 Majors Project AC-03-104 3 credits Prof. Schmidt moved, seconded by Prof. GowriSankaran, that the courses be adopted. The motion carried. SECTION D: MAJOR COURSE CHANGES None SECTION E: MINOR PROGRAM CHANGES (1) PSYCHOLOGY (B.Sc.) - Faculty AC-03-71 - Major AC-03-72 - Honours AC-03-73 (B.A. & Sc.) - Major Concentration in Psychology AC-03-75 Prof. Baker moved, seconded by Prof. GowriSankaran, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. (2) COMPUTER SCIENCE - Minor AC-03-77 - Major AC-03-78 - Honours AC-03-79 - Major in Software Engineering AC-03- 80 Prof. Th‚rien moved, seconded by Prof. Vangheluwe, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. COMPUTER SCIENCE (ADDENDUM S-03-18A) New Course: COMP 564 Computational Gene Regulation AC-03- 22(REV) 3 credits Prof. Th‚rien moved, seconded by Prof. Vangheluwe, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. Program Changes: - Minor in Computational Molecular Biology AC-03- 24 - Minor in Computer Science AC-03- 23 - Major in Computer Science AC-03- 25 - Joint Major in Mathematics & Computer Science AC-03-26 - Honours in Computer Science AC-03- 27 - Joint Honours in Mathematics & Computer Science AC-03- 28 Prof. Vangheluwe moved, seconded by Prof. Th‚rien, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. (3) McGILL SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT - Program Revision Summary AC-03- 88 B.Sc.; Environment: - Biodiversity and Conservation Domain AC-03- 90 - Environmetrics Domain AC-03- 91 - Food Production and Environment Domain AC-03-92 - Ecological Determinants of Health Domain: Population Stream AC-03- 93 Cellular Stream AC-03- 94 - Land Surface Processes and Environmental Change Domain AC-03-95 - Renewable Resource Management Domain AC-03- 96 - Water Environments and Ecosystems Domain: Physical Stream AC-03- 97 Biological Stream AC-03- 98 - Atmospheric Environment and Air Quality Domain AC-03- 99 - Earth Sciences and Economics Domain AC-03- 100 Minor Program in Environment AC-03- 101 Diploma in Environment AC-03- 102 Prof. Ewing moved, seconded by Prof. Bell, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. (4) MATHEMATICS & STATISTICS (B.Sc.) - Major in Mathematics AC-03- 105 - Honours Program in Applied Mathematics AC-03-106 - Joint Major in Mathematics & Computer Science AC-03-107 - Joint Honours in Mathematics & Computer Science AC-03- 108 - Faculty Program in Mathematics & Computer Science AC-03-109 - Faculty Program in Mathematics, Statistics & Computer Science AC-03-110 (B.A. & Sc.) - Major Concentration in Mathematics AC-03- 111 - Minor Concentration in Mathematics AC-03- 112 Prof. Schmidt moved, seconded by Prof. GowriSankaran, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. (5) GEOGRAPHY Honours in Geography AC-03- 113/113A Prof. Ewing moved, seconded by Prof. Moore, that the program change be approved. The motion carried. (6) INTERDEPARTMENTAL HONOURS IMMUNOLOGY PROGRAM (IHI) AC-03-115 404.1 Prof. Baines said that following consultation with the Faculty of Medicine, it had been agreed to add the following courses: To U1 Complementary Courses: PHGY 209 To U2 Complementary Courses: PHGY 314 Prof. Baines moved, seconded by Mr. Vorstenbosch, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. SECTION F: Other - B.A. & Sc. Program Administration Committee(PAC) Membership AC-03-114 404.2 Associate Dean Mendelson said that the proposed PAC Science members are: Associate Dean (Academic & Student Affairs) M. Mendelson, Prof. B. Arndtsen (Chemistry) and Prof. T. Moore (Geography). The Arts members are: Associate Dean (Student Affairs) E. Quaroni, Prof. A. Costopoulous (Anthropology) and Prof. G. Mikkelson (Philosophy & MSE). Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. Ewing, that the Science membership be approved. The motion carried. SECTION G: Minor Course Changes & Other (For Information Only) 1. Minor Course Changes AC-03- 66 2. Psychology B.A. Program Changes: - Minor Concentration in Behavioural Science - Honours 3. McGill School of Environment B.A.; Environment: - Economics and the Earth's Environment Domain - Environment and Development Domain - Ecological Determinants of Health in Society Domain Minor Concentration Program in Environment AGRI 519 (New Course) 4. Geography B.A. Program Changes: - Honours - Joint Honours c) Other Reports or Academic Business - Academic Implications of the Work of the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) 404.3 Dean Shaver welcomed Dr. Joan Wolforth, Director of the Office for Students with Disabilities. 404.4 Dr. Wolforth gave a presentation describing the increase in the number of students with disabilities, and said that these were often not "visible" disabilities, but increasingly involved mental-health issues. She said that the University was required under the Qu‚bec Human Rights Code to provide "reasonable accommodation" for these students. 404.5 Regarding academic implications, Dr. Wolforth said that these may involve equipment used during classroom presentations; provision of people to aid in note- taking and provide sign language; provision of alternative reading materials; additional time for students with disabilities to complete required work; modifications to the evaluation process; allowance for allergic reactions to environmental factors, e.g., chemicals; provision of tutors and assistance with writing essays, etc.; accommodations involving the exam process; provision of adaptive technology for students with disabilities; and provision of assistance in laboratories and libraries. The OSD also provides attendant care for those unable to cope on their own, as well as transport and reserved parking spaces. 404.6 Dr. Wolforth said that the goal of the OSD was to graduate students and to graduate them well. 404.7 Dr. Wolforth answered members' questions. 404.8 Dean Shaver thanked Dr. Wolforth for her informative presentation. (5) DEAN'S BUSINESS (i) New Professors in the Faculty of Science S-03-19 405.1 Dean Shaver pointed out Document S-03-19, a list of new professors in the Faculty of Science. Dean Shaver then asked chairs to briefly describe the research interests of the new professors. (ii) The Integrated Planning Cycle Discussion: The Faculty of Science Planning Process S-03-20 405.2 Dean Shaver gave some background information on planning processes in general and McGill's in particular. He said it was appropriate for the University to determine how best to mobilize its resources, and that the Faculty of Science had undertaken to take part vigorously and constructively in the planning process. 405.3 Dean Shaver went on to describe Document S-03-20. The Chairs Council is the planning group of the Faculty of Science. The Chairs Council consists of the Dean of Science, the Associate Dean (Academic & Student Affairs), the Associate Dean (Research), the Chairs of Science departments, the Directors of the School of Computer Science, the Redpath Museum, and the McGill School of Environment, and the Director of Administration for the Deans of Arts & Science. Student input arises from the Academic Committee and from Faculty meetings. 405.4 In order for the Faculty at McGill to be strong, there must be strength in its fundamental disciplines: Math and Computational Sciences; Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences; Social Sciences. A number of interdisciplinary themes have been identified in the Faculty. Small workgroups have been struck to identify the Faculty's strengths and opportunities in these areas. 405.5 Document S-03-20 includes a Planning Template for determining strategic priorities in the Faculty of Science. 405.6 The Faculty's consideration of its undergraduate programs is being undertaken by the Chairs Council led by the Associate Dean (Academic & Student Affairs) in consultation with the Academic Committee. 405.7 The Faculty's consideration of its graduate programs, and consideration of "bench marking," are being undertaken by the Chairs Council led by the Associate Dean (Research). 405.8 In response to members, Dean Shaver said that the Faculty of Science would certainly be integrative and cooperative with the four biomedical units, and would definitely cooperate in other areas outside the Faculty's borders. 405.9 Regarding consideration of the Faculty's undergraduate programs, Associate Dean Mendelson said that the Boyer Report (http://naples.cc.sunysb.edu/Pres/boyer.nsf) would be used as a framework for curriculum review. This report recommends making research-based learning the standard in undergraduate education at research institutions. Through the Academic Committee, the Faculty would be discussing specific goals and specific ways to reach those goals. Student input would therefore occur at the Academic Committee and Faculty levels. 405.10 In response to a member, Dean Shaver said that an external review process had not been considered, but that he would take the point up with the Chairs Council. 405.11 In reply to a member, Dean Shaver said that feedback from the University administration as to the feasibility of some of the ideas was expected in the near future. (6) MEMBERS' QUESTION PERIOD There were no members' questions. (7) OTHER BUSINESS 407.1 Dean Shaver said that at the End-of-Term Reception, there would be an opportunity to purchase Centraide tickets. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.