Senate Report

President Mordechai Rozanski began the last Senate meeting of 2001 by reporting on the University's performance in Maclean's magazine's annual ranking of universities, indicating areas where the University did well and less well (See Nov. 14 issue of @Guelph). Rozanski thanked members of the faculty, staff, students and alumni for their important contributions to the University's quality and reputation, which continue to gain national recognition. Nevertheless, the president cautioned that more funding is still needed to deal with rising student-to-faculty ratios that result in growing class sizes, both of which influence the University's quality.

He added that he and other executive heads of Ontario universities continue to meet with provincial officials to pursue this agenda.

AUCC CAMPAIGN

The president drew senators' attention to a new Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) national campaign to inform the public about the value and benefits of an arts and sciences undergraduate university education. AUCC's efforts, he said, complement the advocacy work and recent publications of the Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada, designed to highlight the essential role that social sciences and humanities play in the teaching and research mission of Canadian universities.

In other news, the president advised Senate that registrar Chuck Cunningham has been named director of Communications and Public Affairs. An open search for a new registrar will be initiated in the near future.

Rozanski also welcomed Prof. Dave Hume to his new role as interim associate vice-president (research, agri-food and partnerships). Hume will work closely with Prof. Alan Wildeman, vice-president (research), on renewing the University's enhanced partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

SENATE MEETING SCHEDULE

Senators approved a motion brought forward by its executive committee to move from a four-week to a five-week meeting cycle, reducing the number of meetings from 10 to eight a year. This will make the scheduling of Senate meetings more flexible, will ensure meetings are held when needed and will save the University money on photocopying and mailing costs, a memorandum on the proposal explained.

UPDATE ON SCIENCE COMPLEX DEVELOPMENT

Prof. Alastair Summerlee, provost and vice-president (academic), gave senators a detailed presentation on the newest developments surrounding the building of the University's science complex. See related story.