S-02-24 FACULTY OF SCIENCE Meeting of Faculty Tuesday, January 7, 2003 Leacock Council Room - L232 ATTENDANCE: As recorded in the Faculty Appendix Book. DOCUMENTS: S-02-15 to S-02-20 Dean Shaver called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. (1) ADOPTION OF AGENDA Prof. Derome moved, seconded by Prof. Mucci, that the Agenda be adopted. The motion carried. (2) GRADUATE ADMISSIONS, RETENTION AND FUNDING - DEAN MARTHA CRAGO S-02-21, S-02-22, S-02-23 402.1 Dean Shaver introduced Dean Crago. 402.2 Dean Crago handed out documents to the members of Faculty (S-02-21 to S-02-22). 402.3 Dean Crago said that McGill's objectives were to produce high quality graduate students, a high rate of graduation, and timely completion of degrees. It was also important that any withdrawals from graduate programs be achieved in a timely fashion. Dean Crago said that the Canadian Government had the objective of improved performance in research and development. There was a need for more highly qualified personnel in universities and industry. She mentioned that governmental studies predicted that 80,000 highly qualified personnel would be needed by 2011; this was 40,000 more than Canadian universities will graduate at their present rate. 402.4 Dean Crago said the number of graduate students McGill can accept is affected by the time it takes students to graduate. She said that graduate-student funding affects both the quality of students admitted and the time it takes the students to graduate. 402.5 Dean Crago gave a slide presentation on various aspects of graduate admissions, retention and funding. 402.6 Dean Crago said the Task Force on Graduate Funding had recently completed a discussion document concerning recommendations for graduate-student funding. This document would be presented to various university bodies for further discussion. 402.7 Dean Crago answered members' questions. 402.8 A member pointed out that none of the data addressed the quality of students being graduated. He emphasized the importance of quality, saying that pushing students to graduate earlier would result in a reduction in quality. A reduction in quality would result in a reduction in productivity and success in the years after completion of a graduate degree. 402.9 Dean Crago agreed that this was a very important issue to be taken into account. 402.10 Dean Shaver emphasized the importance of monitoring graduate students on a regular basis. 402.11 Dean Shaver thanked Dean Crago for her presentation. (3) MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 12, 2002 S-02- 15 Prof. Barrette moved, seconded by Prof. Mucci, that the minutes be approved. The motion carried. (4) BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES There was no business arising from the minutes. (5) REPORTS OF COMMITTEES a) Committee on Student Standing S-02-16,S- 02-20 Associate Dean Mendelson pointed out the two CSS reports. b) Scholarship Committee - New Award: FMRC Bellini Family Scholarship in Science S-02-17 Value: $5000 405.1 Prof. Leighton, Chair, Faculty of Science Scholarships Committee, introduced the above scholarship. Prof. Leighton, moved, seconded by Prof. Coomes, that the award be approved. The motion carried. c) Academic Committee S-02-18 SECTION A: NEW PROGRAMS 1. Ad Hoc Cognitive Science Honours Program AC-02-77 Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. Kramer, that the above ad hoc program be adopted. The motion carried. 2. Ad Hoc Minor Concentration In Life Sciences AC-02- 78 405.2 Associate Dean Mendelson explained that since this was a Minor Concentration, it was the jurisdiction of the Faculty of Arts to approve it. However, the Faculty of Arts had asked the Faculty of Science to examine the proposed ad hoc minor for coherence. Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. Kramer, that the above ad hoc program be considered a coherent course of study for a Minor Concentration. The motion carried. 3. Ad hoc Neuroscience Major Program AC-02- 80 Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. Kramer, that the program be adopted. The motion carried. SECTION B: MAJOR PROGRAM CHANGES None SECTION C: NEW COURSES 1. PSYCHOLOGY PSYC 496 Senior Honours Research 1 AC-02- 61 3 credits PSYC 497 Senior Honours Research 2 AC-02- 62 3 credits PSYC 498D1/PSYC 498D2 Senior Honours Research AC-02-63 6 credits Prof. Baker moved, seconded by Prof. Kramer, that the above courses be adopted. The motion carried. 2. EARTH & PLANETARY SCIENCES EPSC 561 Ore-forming Processes 1 AC-02- 66 3 credits EPSC 562 Ore-forming Processes 2 AC-02- 67 3 credits Prof. Mucci moved, seconded by Prof. Leighton, that the above courses be adopted. The motion carried. 3. PHYSICS PHYS 107 Mechanics Lab. (Life Sciences) AC-02- 68 1 credit PHYS 108 E&M Lab. (Life Sciences) AC-02-69 1 credit PHYS 117 Mechanics Laboratory AC-02- 70 1 credit PHYS 118 E&M Laboratory AC-02-71 1 credit Prof. Burgess moved, seconded by Prof. Grant, that the above courses be adopted. The motion carried. PHYS 205 Our Evolving Universe AC-02- 74 3 credits PHYS 206 The Milky Way Inside and Out AC-02- 75 3 credits Prof. Grant moved, seconded by Prof. Burgess, that the above courses be adopted. The motion carried. 4. COMPUTER SCIENCE COMP 667 Software Fault Tolerance AC-02-76 3 credits Prof. Th‚rien moved, seconded by Prof. Mucci, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. 5. GEOGRAPHY GEOG 303 Health Geography AC-02- 83 3 credits Prof. Ewing moved, seconded by Prof. Coomes, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. SECTION D: MAJOR COURSE CHANGES None SECTION E: MINOR PROGRAM CHANGES 1. PSYCHOLOGY Honours Program in Psychology AC-02- 65 Prof. Baker moved, seconded by Prof. Kramer, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. 2. COMPUTER SCIENCE B.Sc. Minor Program in Computer Science AC-02- 85 Prof. Th‚rien moved, seconded by Prof. Mucci, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. SECTION F: Other 1. Placement Tests AC-02-56 (Revised 5) 405.3 Associate Dean Mendelson introduced the document and gave some background information. Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. Baker, that the regulations in document AC-02- 56(Revised 5) be adopted. 405.4 Mr. Lewis moved, seconded by Mr. Vorstenbosch that point #6 of the document be amended to read "Students who pass a placement exam shall receive exemption from, and credit for, the relevant McGill course. However, students who receive exemptions and credit in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, shall ..." 405.5 After some discussion, a vote was held on the amendment. The amendment was defeated. 405.6 A vote was held on the original motion. The motion carried. 2. Regulations Concerning Final Examinations AC-02- 84/AC-02-84A 405.7 Associate Dean Mendelson explained the reasons for the changes. Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. Kramer, that for the Faculty of Science, courses up to and including the 500-level would be covered by the University regulations for final examinations (Calendar Section 5.2.1). The motion carried. 3. Proposal for a Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) Degree Program AC-02-79 405.8 Associate Dean Mendelson said that the joint Arts- Science BASc Committee had produced an outline for a proposed BASc. Faculty had previously discussed this issue. Associate Dean Mendelson said that the joint Committee would like to see approval by the two faculties of the BASc degree in principle, prior to bringing forth actual proposals for the degree. Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. Leighton, that the proposal for a BASc be approved in principle. The motion carried. SECTION G: Minor Course Changes (For Information Only) 1. Minor Course Changes AC-02- 60 2. Minor Course Changes AC-02- 82 d) Other Reports or Academic Business - Disciplinary Officer Report - Associate Dean Mendelson S- 02-19 405.9 Associate Dean Mendelson went through the above document, and answered several questions. (6) DEAN'S BUSINESS There was no Dean's business. (7) REPORT ON ACTIONS OF SENATE 407.1 These reports will be presented at a later date: - Senate Meeting of November 6, 2002 - Prof. E. Meighen - Senate Meeting of December 4, 2002 - Prof. K. GowriSankaran (8) MEMBERS' QUESTION PERIOD 408.1 In response to a member's question concerning the fact that graduate students who had not paid their full tuition were not able to take out library books, Dean Shaver suggested that Dean Crago be contacted. (9) OTHER BUSINESS There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.